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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1776
Congress met according to adjournment.
The delegates from Georgia produced the credentials of their reappointment, which were read as follows:
GEORGIA
In Convention, Savannah, 9th October, 1776.
The Convention proceeded to ballot for Delegates to represent this State in the Continental Congress for the Year ensuing: when, on closing the Poll, it appeared that Messrs. John Houstoun, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, George Walton, and Nathan Brownson, Esquires were duly elected, and declared so accordingly.
A true Copy from the Minutes,
Edward Langworthy, Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Georgia, Credentials of Delegates.]
Sundry letters were read, viz.
Three from General Washington, of the 12, and 13, and 15; with one, of the 13th, from General Sullivan.
Four, from Mr. R. Morris, ∥at Philadelphia,∥ of the 13, 14, 16, and 17th.
One, of the 8, from General Wooster:2
[Note 2: 2 The letters of Washington are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folios 343, 351, and 355. They are printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 82, 89, and 100. That of Morris is in No. 137 (appendix), folios 1--19, and that of Wooster is in No. 161, folio 323.]
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∥Ordered, That they be∥ referred to a committee of four:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, and Mr. [Samuel] Adams.
Resolved, That Benjamin Griffith do immediately supply the prisoners from North Carolina with provisions, cloathing, and blankets, and fuel, sufficient to protect them from the inclemency of the weather; and that the apartments, in which they are confined, be glazed, and in other respects secured from the weather, so that the health of the prisoners may be preserved, and they experience that humanity which has ever marked the conduct of this Congress to its prisoners.
Resolved, That the President send to the council of safety of Maryland a copy of the resolution passed the 9, and forwarded to the committees of Cecil, &c., and inform the said council of the reason that induced Congress to send the same to the committees, and request the council of safety to exert their utmost endeavours in forwarding the reinforcements.1
[Note 1: 1 In margin is written "Counter-ordered."]
Resolved, That the president write to General Washington, and desire him to send a flag to General Howe, and enquire in what manner General Lee, ∥who has been taken prisoner,∥ is treated: and if he finds that he is not treated agreeable to his rank and character, to send a remonstrance to General Howe on the subject; and farther, to enquire of General Howe whether he will grant permission to send General Lee such supplies of money as may be necessary to support him, during his confinement, in a manner suitable to his rank in the service of the United States of America:
That the president also write to Mr. R[obert] Morris, and request him to send 100 half-johannes to General Washington for the use of General Lee.
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∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folios 147 and 239, are two undated motions, as follows:
"Resolved, That the committee appointed to superintend the printing of the Journals of Congress, be empowered and directed to send an Express to enquire where Mr. Robert Aitken, who was employed in printing them, is or may be; and that they cause so much of them as are already printed to be removed to this place, and also to remove his press and Utensils to this place at the public expence: provided the said Robert Aitken shall be willing to come with them, and perform his engagement with Congress."
"Resolved, That the committee appointed to superintend the printing of the Journals write to Mr. Aitken of Philadelphia and request that he would immediately proceed hither with his press and every other matter necessary for compleating the printing of the Journals of the Congress, and that he also bring with him the several Copies of the Journal so far as he has advanced in printing them, and that he may rest assured that the Congress will reimburse him any extraordinary expence which may attend his removal in Addition to what they have already engaged to pay him had not circumstances rendered this additional trouble necessary."
As Dunlap printed the resolution of December 23 on militia accounts, he must have been called to Baltimore almost immediately after the removal of Congress to that place.]
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